Airtran- is it worth it to pay for seats?

[crashbb]

I have always paid for my seats on Airtran. I have always felt more comfortable sitting in the window seat, especially on the side where there are only two seats. I was in 19A both ways.

I watched and watched the seating as time went on - it seemed like the seat next to mine remained empty - both going down and coming back. No one had picked it.

Lo and behold, going back to BWI, a lady sat next to me and then asked if I would switch so she and her husband could sit together. At first, I said no way, I paid for my seating assignment, but then I asked her where he was.

He was in the last row of the plane, middle seat on the opposite side of the aisle. I was like, are you serious - I don't think so.

So don't arbitrarally expect someone to switch with you, especially if you didn't pay for your seating assignment.

You'll notice that they didn't ask the person sitting beside her husband to move up to her seat!

 

[disneymayz]

We don't pay! If we can't sit together then so be it. We have never had any trouble at the 24hr mark to get seats together so the kids do not sit by themselves. When the in-laws come that is 6 people x 6/person per way = $72 to pick seats you know what that can buy me when I'm in Disney!

 

[kaytieeldr]

When the in-laws come that is 6 people x 6/person per way = $72 to pick seats you know what that can buy me when I'm in Disney!

Interesting perspective. Six people divided by two directions - yet what YOU can do with that money?

 

[dudspizza]

I have always paid for my seats on Airtran. I have always felt more comfortable sitting in the window seat, especially on the side where there are only two seats. I was in 19A both ways.

I watched and watched the seating as time went on - it seemed like the seat next to mine remained empty - both going down and coming back. No one had picked it.

Lo and behold, going back to BWI, a lady sat next to me and then asked if I would switch so she and her husband could sit together. At first, I said no way, I paid for my seating assignment, but then I asked her where he was.

He was in the last row of the plane, middle seat on the opposite side of the aisle. I was like, are you serious - I don't think so.

So don't arbitrarally expect someone to switch with you, especially if you didn't pay for your seating assignment.

I had the same thing happen to me years ago when traveling with my dad. Northwest actually put us on two different flights from LAX to SLC and we didn't even realize it until we got to LAX. No biggie as we were on the same SLC to MSP flight....

Anyways... I board my flight and am asked to give up my window seat so someone can sit with their party..... I at first said yes until I realize that this person is seated in a middle seat while I am way in the back in one of the only rows of 2....... After realizing that, I told them no way and didn't give up my seat.......

Moral is, if you are planning on trading your seat, you had better have a more desirable seat to trade for, not a middle in the last row!

Duds

 

[disneymayz]

Interesting perspective. Six people divided by two directions - yet what YOU can do with that money?

I pay for the airline tickets so the money comes to me. I can rent a boat for 1/2 hr and have a break from the in-laws.

 

[disneyeveryyear]

I'm so glad you started this thread, I have been wondering the same thing!! Does anyone know this answer-I booked thru a TA (my parents ) who booked the flight thru Disney. Do they go thru Airtran or thru Disney travel? Or can I just call and do it since I have my docs?

I know when my TA (friend) books my Airtran flights, there is no cost for the seat assignments, so your parents should be able to go to the AT website, and grab those seat assignments for you.

 

[aubriee]

I have always paid for my seats on Airtran. I have always felt more comfortable sitting in the window seat, especially on the side where there are only two seats. I was in 19A both ways.

I watched and watched the seating as time went on - it seemed like the seat next to mine remained empty - both going down and coming back. No one had picked it.

Lo and behold, going back to BWI, a lady sat next to me and then asked if I would switch so she and her husband could sit together. At first, I said no way, I paid for my seating assignment, but then I asked her where he was.

He was in the last row of the plane, middle seat on the opposite side of the aisle. I was like, are you serious - I don't think so.

So don't arbitrarally expect someone to switch with you, especially if you didn't pay for your seating assignment.

Same thing happened to me last year, except the guy got on the plane and actually sat in my seat before my boarding zone was called. I had an aisle seat in like 13B (two seats on the left and three on the right). When I boarded there was a lady in the window seat and a man in my aisle seat. I politely told him he was in my seat and without even looking up from his book he told me, "I know! I want to sit by my wife, you can have my seat in 28E". Didn't even ask, just told me he was trading his middle seat in the back of the plane for my aisle seat toward the front. I told him in no uncertain terms, "I don't think so! Get out of my seat". He stood up and tried to intimidate me with his size at which point I stopped being polite. I told him to move or I'd get the FA to move him. Both he and his wife started calling me names and the FA saw them, came to find out what was wrong, then the idiots started the no English routine. I smiled and said that's odd, you were speaking perfect English just a minute ago when you called me a b-tch. The FA made the man move back to his seat and he started arguing with her, demanding that she make me give up my seat for him. She told him he could either move back to his seat or get off the plane. After he finally moved to his seat, his wife/girlfriend started giving me a hard time. Finally after the flight took off and leveled off, I told her to either leave me alone or I'd be calling the FA to deal with her. She finally shut up, but continued to give me the evil eye. Not that I cared. I put my earphones in and ignored her. I couldn't believe that he called me a "rude b-tch" when he was the one who didn't even bother to ask me to trade seats, he just took mine and demanded me to go sit in his.

In the last year I've flown Air Tran in early May, late August, early Sept, mid Oct, and early Dec and on every trip it seems like I have seen parents and even just adults having a fit at the gate agent, demanding they move people around so they can sit together. The response has always been the same: if being able to sit together is important to you, then you should have purchased your seats. I hate to fly, hate middle seats, don't particularly like window seats, and will not sit in the back of the plane, so I'll pay the money to get my preferred aisle seat in the front of the plane. Even if I'm flying solo, I purchase my seats, so unless you have a better (or at least another aisle) seat to offer, then don't bother asking me to switch. If you do ask me to switch at least ask me politely, don't demand.

 

[Missytara]

Your story reminded me of a time I fly out to Las Vegas with two friends. They were both very, very tall and we managed to snag the first row in front of the door so they could stretch out, on both flying out and coming back.

On our way back, one of my friends had an issue because she carried a key chain with a pocket knife with great sentimental value - she had to ship it home.

When we got to our gate, my friend was paged to the desk and we assumed there was an issue with mailing the knife home for some reason.

Nope, the gate agent asked if we could give up two of our seats for a young couple "going on their honeymoon." We said absolutely not, we paid extra and we weren't moving. She kinda looked at us very oddly, but didn't say anything and allowed us to board.

Lo and behold, we get on the plane and there is this young couple sitting in two of our three seats. We politely told them they were in our seats, and this young kid (they had to be all of twenty) points to the two empty seats about six rows behind us and says, "Nope, two of you are now sitting back there. The gate agent moved you."

Seriously..... Now, there we are blocking the door, arguing with them and the flight attendant starts yelling at US to get in our seats. This young kid just smirks and says, "Yeah, get to your seats so we can get going."

By then, we were hot and continued to argue with this kid and the flight attendant, until she told us that she was about to get the pilot and have us thrown off the plane and we could find our own way back to Baltimore.

We said, go ahead, get him. Sure, enough, the pilot came out, looked at our tickets, looked at the flight attendant and said, "Yep, these two people are in their seats - they will have to move and these young women can take their seats and we can take off." He admonished the flight attendant for not looking at our tickets, and went back to the cockpit.

She apologized and said the gate agent had no right to do that and the pilot would report it when they got back to Las Vegas. I have no idea whatever came of it....

 

[Momto2PrncChrmgs]

I know when my TA (friend) books my Airtran flights, there is no cost for the seat assignments, so your parents should be able to go to the AT website, and grab those seat assignments for you.

Thank you! I'll have them look into that. I have two small kids, so after reading this thread, I"m willing to pay for our seats anyway! I want to make sure at least the 3 of us are together-hubby can go sit anywhere! (Of course, he'd probably like that idea-a flight alone, no whiney kids or nagging wife to deal with, all to save $12)!

 

[kaytieeldr]

See, I don't get that, Momto2PrncChrmngs. Not the part about needing to sit with your young kids, of course. I get that. What I don't get is why YOU have to do it.

Sit them with their dad. Take a break for a couple of hours. YOU take the solo seat!!!!!

 

[lindsroc]

I called yesterday and got the seats assigned. $38 for both of us roundtrip. Of course, on the way down they said that the row I wanted 17AC ($6) was not available....even though it was availble online. Had to pay $13 for 15AC. After, looked online again and lo and behold--- 17AC were open!!!! grrrr. Oh well, at least I have peace of mind knowing we will be together, and Im glad I got us on the side with 2 seats... I dont like the thought of being next to someone creepy the whole way to Orlando.

 

[sam_gordon]

I dont like the thought of being next to someone creepy the whole way to Orlando.

I don't get this. Well, yes I understand not wanting to sit by someone "creepy", but presumably you're going to WDW, where you're going to be SURROUNDED by potentially "creepy" people. Why not simply pretend you're waiting in line for Soarin and strike up a conversation? Or ignore them, read a book, listen to an ipod, or watch a movie?

 

[lindsroc]

I don't get this. Well, yes I understand not wanting to sit by someone "creepy", but presumably you're going to WDW, where you're going to be SURROUNDED by potentially "creepy" people. Why not simply pretend you're waiting in line for Soarin and strike up a conversation? Or ignore them, read a book, listen to an ipod, or watch a movie?

In line or in a crowd, you can move or change positions with someone or turn around etc. Plus...your in Disney! Not trapped in a metal tube in mid-air. I just dont like flying in general. So, I would prefer to be on the 2 seater side. Ive had my fair share of being seated next to creepy people.

 

[Momto2PrncChrmgs]

I called yesterday and got the seats assigned. $38 for both of us roundtrip. Of course, on the way down they said that the row I wanted 17AC ($6) was not available....even though it was availble online. Had to pay $13 for 15AC. After, looked online again and lo and behold--- 17AC were open!!!! grrrr. Oh well, at least I have peace of mind knowing we will be together, and Im glad I got us on the side with 2 seats... I dont like the thought of being next to someone creepy the whole way to Orlando.

Agreed!! Being seated next to someone on an airplane is a bit more intimate than being next to someone in a line.

 

[Momto2PrncChrmgs]

See, I don't get that, Momto2PrncChrmngs. Not the part about needing to sit with your young kids, of course. I get that. What I don't get is why YOU have to do it.

Sit them with their dad. Take a break for a couple of hours. YOU take the solo seat!!!!!

That would be heaven (for me at least). Not so much for the other passengers when my 4 yr old is screaming "I WANNA SIT WITH MOMMY!!!!" He's a bit high maintenance, to say the least.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Just curious if anyone knows the answer to this. I SUSPECT if we pay for seats, then upgrade to Business Class, the money we paid for seats is just gone. Correct?

 

[IbeAbitGOOFY]

Just curious if anyone knows the answer to this. I SUSPECT if we pay for seats, then upgrade to Business Class, the money we paid for seats is just gone. Correct?

I cannot speak from experience, but I've read that the amount you paid for your seats will be applied to your Business Class upgrade.

 

[Traveliz]

Just curious if anyone knows the answer to this. I SUSPECT if we pay for seats, then upgrade to Business Class, the money we paid for seats is just gone. Correct?

No they refund it to your card - any baggage fees you have paid too.

I do it all the time.

Liz

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

No they refund it to your card - any baggage fees you have paid too.

I do it all the time.

Liz

Great! Thanks so much!

I knew they would refund your luggage fees. We paid for our bags at AKL, then upgraded when we got to MCO and we were able to get the bag fees back (eventually).

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

I called Airtran about their seating policy and kids, and I was told this:

They will make "every effort" for young children to sit with a parent, and they "usually" find a way to do it, especially for young ones, but can not "guarantee" it, even for a 1 yr old.

I just paid for the seats for our coming trip. We really want the whole family sitting together, and not split up, even if the kids are not by themselves. And, on the flight to MCO, it looked like there were only 2 rows that were completely empty (and, now, only 1 )

The flight home looked pretty empty, though, so I was tempted to take our chances, but I figured complete piece of mind is worth $30 (and I won't have to debate/worry about finding a guest service location during our last day at MK)